Tripura Government is making an all out effort to ensure supply of pure drinking water to every household – however, it appears that an unstable power supply system coupled with the depletion of groundwater is playing spoilsport in many parts of the State.
Informed sources opined the State Government needs to revamp the Power department for providing stable power supply for supplying piped water to households in rural and remote villages.
In most of cases, water supply crisis is prevailing owing failure of the Power department in ensuring power supply to water lifting pumping stations. Along with the power supply issue, at some places, especially in hill areas, depletion of underground water is said to render tubewells and other water sources useless.
Irked at frequent water and power crisis, people of Murtima Colony in Gandachhera and 82-mile area resorted to road blocked agitations on Thursday.
Villagers of Murtima Colony alleged power supply remained suspended in the village for the around 15 days last. While lack of electricity has caused the students and elders to suffer, the disruption in power supply for around two weeks has left the water supply serious hit in the village.
“There is no electricity in our village for the last around 15 days. As a result, the water supply was also hit. We went to the concerned officials to address power and water crisis – however, the situation did not improve”, alleged the villagers.
“The negligent attitude of the concerned officials has compelled us to resort to road blockade so that the authority take a note of our plights and restore normal power and water supply in the village”, agitating villagers commented.
Today was the Haat Baar (weekly market day) in Gandachhera – the road blockade threw the traffic out of the gear.
Meantime, indigenous people of 82-mile and adjoining areas block Assam-Agartala NH at 82-mile with a similar demand – regular water and power supply. Womenfolk of the area blocked the road with water vessels since 9am.
The agitating villagers claimed the water level in the area depleted resulting serious water crisis at 82-mile, Nalkata, Kanchanchhara and other areas. Due to a fall in the underground water level, most of the tubewells have become useless and the administration is also not supplying tank water. In such a situation, villagers are facing a severe water crisis.
Vehicles on both sides of the Assam-Agartala NH were left stranded due to the blockade. Police along with the concerned officials rushed to the spot and assured the villagers. After obtaining the assurance, villagers withdrew the blockade. (Courtesy: Tripura Times)